Archive for month: February, 2012

Volunteering can be an emotional and rewarding adventure whatever your age and whichever project you immerse yourself into. But to get the most out of donating your time and efforts, it’s important to choose the right volunteer programme for you. We take a look as some of the most popular type of volunteer programmes and where in the world needs your help most.

Volunteering with street children and orphanages, India
India is a vastly growing and dynamic country, but while it is rich in culture and tradition, there is still a very strong divide between the rich and the poor. Most vulnerable are the children, whose education, healthcare and future prospects are often very much limited. Fortunately, various programmes such as the ‘India Bangalore Street Children & Community Volunteering’ programme from Frontier offer both practical and emotional support to those from an underprivileged and therefore limiting background.

Volunteer teaching, Central and South America
TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) internships and volunteer programmes are popular amongst those who are looking to pursue a career in teaching or working with children. Central and South America especially are crying out for volunteers to help their school children learn English to offer them a better career and a more stable future. The ‘Teach English in Schools in Lima, Peru’ programme from i to i works with particular schools where they cannot afford to pay extra for the local English speaking teachers who demand a higher salary.

Volunteer animal conservation, Africa
Although Africa is fortunate to be home to many of the world’s most iconic and beautiful creatures, illegal poaching and the disappearance of their natural habitats means that the continent is a fragile place for animal life. Amanzi Travel offer a wide range of conservation, rehabilitation and wildlife sanctuary-based programmes such as the ‘Botswana Wilderness Conservation Volunteer’ project that observes and monitors animals such as zebras and giraffes in order to preserve and protect the country’s fragile eco-system for the future.